The Tata Harrier has been making waves since it was first shown in concept form as the Tata H5X at Auto Expo 2018. First impressions of the final product were also impressive. The Harrier is attractive, spacious, has plush interiors and boasts excellent ride comfort. And the good news is that Tata Motors has also priced the Harrier very aggressively. Prices range from Rs 12.69-16.25 lakh (ex-showroom prices in at least four cities), which makes the Harrier exceptional value for an SUV of the size. Simply put, the Harrier is the best car from Tata Motors till date, and one that is easy to recommend. But which one of the four variants matches your needs the best? We answer that question.
What are the engines on offer?
Tata Motors has kept it rather straightforward with the Harrier. There’s only one engine-gearbox version on offer at the moment. The engine is a Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel unit that makes 140hp and 350Nm of torque. Interestingly, it’s the same engine as the Jeep Compass, albeit in a lower state of tune. The standard fit 6-speed manual gearbox transmits power to the front wheels. There’s neither an automatic nor an all-wheel-drive option yet. Even a petrol engine has been given a miss.
What are the variants on offer?
There are four variants to choose from – XE, XM, XT and XZ.
The XE is the base variant, and for its price of Rs 12.69 lakh it misses out several features that you’d expect in a car of this price. What it has though are all the basics like ABS, dual airbags, rear parking sensors, front seat-belt warning, tilt-telescopic steering, rear AC vents, LED tail lamps and projector headlamps. Oddly, this variant is only available in white.
Even if you’re on a very tight budget, it’s worth stretching Rs 1.06 lakh (over the XE) for the XM variant, which is quite decently equipped with kit like front fog lamps, rear wiper/washer, electric mirror adjustment, remote central locking and driving modes – Eco, City, Sport. What you also get is a 7.0-inch touchscreen with six speakers and steering-mounted controls.
For a price premium of Rs 1.20 lakh over the XM is the XT that’s stuffed with features. This variant offers a lot like 17-inch alloys, wood finish on the dashboard, an eight-speaker sound system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, rear defogger, reversing camera, engine start/stop button, automatic climate control, electrically folding mirrors, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and cruise control. If a long list of features is your priority, then the XT is a good buy.
The top-spec XZ costs Rs 1.3 lakh more than the XT. The additional sum gets you a long list of safety kit like ESP, side and curtain airbags, traction control, hill hold assist, hill descent control and child seat mounts on the rear seat. In addition to these, this top-spec variant also gets xenon headlamps, cornering function for the fog lamps, premium leatherette upholstery, leather wrapped steering and gear lever. The touchscreen in the XZ is a larger 8.8-inch unit, and it is paired with a fantastic nine-speaker JBL sound system.
Which is the variant to buy?
Of the versions on sale, it’s the XZ we’d recommend. Yes, it is the priciest of the Harrier range but see it for its size and the comfort and safety features it gets you, and the XZ comes across as great value for money. Simply put, the Tata Harrier XZ is the version to buy.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
